Music
Deon Estus
1956–2021 · bassist, singer
Detroit-born bassist, taught by Motown's James Jamerson, who played with Wham! and George Michael and had a 1989 top-five hit with “Heaven Help Me.”
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
aged 65- Birth name
- Jeffery Deon Estus
- Detroit years
- 1956–early 1980s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Deon Estus grew up in Detroit and attended Northwestern High School, where he sang second tenor in the choir under the noted director Brazel Dennard. His bass teacher was James Jamerson, the Funk Brothers' legendary Motown bassist. As a teenager he joined the Detroit R&B band Brainstorm, recording two albums and a hit with them. In the early 1980s he moved to Europe to tour with Marvin Gaye, living in Belgium and Ireland before settling in London. There he joined Wham!, touring China with the duo in 1985, and he stayed in George Michael's band through the Faith tour and until Michael's death in 2016. His 1989 single “Heaven Help Me,” with backing vocals by Michael, reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Highlights
- Studied bass with Motown's James Jamerson
- Teenage member of the Detroit band Brainstorm
- Bassist for Wham! and George Michael
- “Heaven Help Me” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 (1989)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · early 1970s
Northwestern High School
Status being checked
Detroit high school where he sang in Brazel Dennard's choir.